Here is a guest post from writer Chloe Lawrance. She explains why you should add coconut oil to your beauty routine.
Coconut oil has long been the ingredient to know in natural beauty circles. And it’s no wonder really, when you consider the versatility of this hydrating powerhouse ingredient. Hair health, skin smoothness and even dental hygiene can all be aided through a handful of coconut oil. And it’s relatively inexpensive too.
We recommend opting for a higher grade if you can afford it. Organic, unrefined coconut oil works best, as it maintains the naturally occurring antioxidants (the good stuff that nourishes and protects skin!) These days, it’s easy to pick up a jar of good quality coconut oil in your local health food shop or supermarket. A little goes a long way, so it’s likely to last too.
Not sure where to start with adding the ingredient to your beauty routine? Here are five everyday ways to incorporate coconut oil.
1. Body moisturiser
Coconut oil is a fantastic natural body moisturiser, thanks to its high levels of saturated fats and vitamin E – both of which are excellent for repairing and maintaining your skin’s natural barrier function. A healthy natural barrier prevents skin sensitivity, dryness and irritation.
After a shower or bath. grab a small handful of coconut oil and rub it into slightly damp skin. By doing this, you’ll help to lock extra moisture into the skin for long-lasting hydration. Although applying the coconut oil to skin may feel greasy at first, it’s a surprisingly light oil, so it will sink in quickly without any sticky residue.
2. Hair mask
With hairdressers closed for a large part of the past year, for many of us our hair could do with a little TLC. If you’re struggling with dry, dehydrated or frizzy hair, we recommend spending 15 minutes indulging in a deeply conditioning coconut oil hair mask.
Warm a few tablespoons up in the microwave so it’s in a more manageable liquid form, then start combing the coconut oil through the mid-lengths and ends of your locks. If you struggle from a greasy scalp, avoid going too close to your roots as this may worsen the problem in the long run. Leave on for a few hours (or overnight to maximise results) are simply wash out with shampoo and conditioner as normal.
3. Dry skin relief
Coconut oil’s ultra-hydrating formula can offer speedy relief from skin issues such as cracked hands or lips.
Decant a small amount of coconut oil into a little point for on-the-go use; an empty lip balm pot is perfect. If overusing hand sanitiser when you’re out and about leaves hands feeling dry or itchy, liberally apply coconut oil as an intensive hand cream. Similarly, pop some oil on to lips as a natural lip balm.
4. Eye makeup remover
Removing eye makeup isn’t always ea. However, coconut oil will make light work of even the most stubborn of waterproof mascaras. Working a little bit of oil into the lash line and eye area will help to break down product, so that it can be easily wiped away with a cloth and a little warm water.
While it might be tempting to use coconut oil to remove makeup across your whole face, we recommend sticking just to the eyes. Coconut oil is comedogenic, which means it can easily block pores – particularly if you’re already prone to breakouts or acne. If you’re a fan of oil cleansing as part of your skincare routine, try a non comedogenic option like grape seed or hemp seed oil instead.
5. Oil pulling
While most dental professionals are in agreement that the ancient practice of oil pulling should never be used in place of traditional dental hygiene methods like brushing and flossing, there may be some benefits to the unusual daily ritual.
Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon full of coconut oil around in your mouth for around 20 minutes every morning. This is supposed to ‘pull’ bacteria from your teeth and gums, which you will remove from your body when you eventually spit out the oil after the allotted time.
While in large part there isn’t the scientific research in place to prove the benefits of oil pulling, there does appear to be some promising attributes. It’s certainly worth giving it a try if you’re curious. Who knew coconut oil would become an essential part of your daily dental hygiene?
We hope you are now tempted to add coconut oil to your beauty routine. It’s such a cheap and versatile ingredient!
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